Information urgently needed to find whoever set “fighting” pit bull on fire
SACRAMENTO, CA (February 8, 2007) – United Animal Nations (UAN) today offered a $1,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for pouring accelerant over a helpless puppy and setting her on fire in Bessemer, Alabama. The young dog had to be euthanized due to the extent of her injuries. Combined with $1,500 being offered by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, the total reward in this case is now $3,000.
On the morning of Sunday February 4, animal control officers responded to a report of a dog screaming in pain in an alley along
. When they arrived, they discovered a severely burned brown female pit bull lying next to a dead black male pit bull. The dogs were covered with scars and appeared to have been used for fighting at one time. However, authorities do not know at this time exactly what caused the death of the male dog.
“This was a blatant and senseless act of cruelty,” said UAN President and CEO Nicole Forsyth. “The local community and law enforcement are determined to find those responsible, and we hope our reward will encourage someone who knows more about this grisly act to come forward with information that could lead to an arrest.”
Jacque Meyer, Executive Director of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, said, “Authorities are taking this case very seriously, not only due to the brutal nature of the crime, but also because several pit bulls with fighting wounds have been found in the Bessemer area, indicating that dog fighting is a growing problem.”
Anyone with information in this case should call Perry Hurst at the
Bessemer Police Department at (205) 425-2411.
Dog fighting is a contest in which two dogs are placed in a pit to fight each other for the spectators’ gambling and entertainment. The fight ends when one dog is no longer willing or able to continue. The dogs often die of blood loss, shock, dehydration, exhaustion or infection hours or even days after the fight. Owners sometimes train their dogs to fight with non-aggressive “bait dogs” or other animals such as cats and rabbits. Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states; it is punishable as a felony in
UAN is offering this reward through its Zig Zag Memorial Reward Fund , designed to encourage witnesses to step forward with information about animal cruelty crimes and to advocate the need for harsher punishments in such cases. Research now shows that people who abuse animals are more likely to be violent toward humans. The Zig Zag Memorial Reward is named for a
MEDIA CONTACT: Alexis Raymond, (916) 429-2457.
Now celebrating its 20th year, United Animal Nations (UAN) is
The Greater
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